Billing itself as Dubai’s first Indian restaurant, Ashiana is reminiscent of an old Bombay cafe with its luxurious dark wood interiors and lively musical performances throughout the evenings.
The main space is large and packed with tables that help to keep up the buzzy atmosphere going, while the chairs are comfortable wooden seats with muted upholstery which are in keeping with the old world vibes. Beautiful antique-style wall hangings complete the picture for a richly bedecked dining room that lends itself perfectly to group dining or celebration meals.
Ashiana is famous for its special event evenings, where throughout the week and year they host a variety of one off nights that offer something a little bit different to do with friends, family or colleagues. At weekends you’ll find the ‘Weekend Masala’ running, which allows you all you can eat and drink status on Friday and Saturdays, with live music starting from 7.30pm and continuing throughout the night for a party feel. Midweek sees ‘Curry Wednesdays’ come to the fore, with a curry and three beers costing you just AED 99, not bad for a hump day pick me up. An annual highlight in the restaurant’s event schedule is of course Diwali, or the festival of light as you might know it. Towards the end of October each year you’ll find the venue hosting parties that include live cooking stations and musical entertainment, as well as a special lineup of dessert options.
In terms of food you can expect all your favourite Indian starters, mains and desserts. To begin the obligatory popadoms and chutneys get things off the ground, while modern twists on classic starters like samosas and bhel puri are all present and correct. For mains there’s a rich and indulgent lineup of curries and for sweets you’re able to tuck into traditional fare, along the lines of gulab jamun.